I just heard of Wayne's passing. I am so sad to hear this. Wayne was a special friend we worked together for years.  I know he will be missed with his big smile, being Santa and the fun loving person he was.
Prayers for his sweet family.
Jan Looney

I have a confession, my kids have never sat on the lap of a Santa at the mall... and I am not sad about that I am Blessed beyond measures to have had Wayne Turnbull in our lives. For the past 12 years, Wayne was Santa Claus to my kids. It was easy to explain why Santa Claus looks so different at the mall vs at this place or that ... Savannah said it best when she was 6 ... they were all imposters. The REAL Santa Claus came to her house every year that she could ever remember. He called the girls to tell her how to put the magic back when we accidentally touched the Elf! He knew my kids names, and the things he could not always remember, Mrs. Claus (Janice Turnbull) always helped him remember. I am fairly certain that Mrs. Claus checks the list twice! 
Santa Claus aka Wayne was not able to make it to us this year. He had some health issues, but I never knew just how magical the call was when he talked to Taylor to explain that he could not make it this year due to "Travel Restrictions" if he got Covid. For if he got Covid that close to Christmas, it would ruin Christmas for all of the children. She understood... But little did I know that would be his last call to us. One of the girls Christmas gifts was a trip to Universal Studios, while we were on that trip on Friday, January 14, 2022 ... Santa Claus retired from his services here on Earth. I can imagine that there was a beautiful Santa Chair waiting for him, and a bunch of kids waiting to tell Santa all kinds of stories. I can here him walking into Heaven, with perfect hips and knees saying HO, HO, HO with a sack on his back.
So often people leave Earth and little things will remind us of them. But Wayne was so special, an entire season will always keep his memory alive. Santa is a physical person when you are a child, and then Santa turns into the spirit of Christmas when you are an adult and he lives in your heart and in the magic of every Childs eyes! Wayne's legacy will always live on!


You will be missed uncle Wayne.  Prayers of comfort and peace for you aunt Janice and everyone.   Leonard and the employees loved having you guys as Santa and Mrs. Claus at his store.  So many great memories, he had such a great and full life. 

There was too many memories to count you will be missed so much. I love you 

Santa's crew gathered around the holidays.  We Love you Grandpa! Gonna miss calling the wambulance for the hinny whippings.

My prayers are with you Aunt Janice. It was always a pleasure to see you both making children smile at Christmas time as santa and mrs claus and being with yall when i was in Florida and could visit.  You are surrounded with love from friends and family… not just in Florida but to the regions beyond! We love you from Tennessee!

Tom and Jerry Carver

My son (Mark) and I will never forget how Mr and Mrs Clause went out of their way to come to our house the day before Christmas eve ( super exhausted) and made my son feel so special with a personal visit from Santa Wayne,  Ya'll renewed my faith in the kindness of people  , because at the time you didn't really know us except that Mark needed a little pick me up in his life ....We still talk about that visit to this day , We love you and will miss you Mr Wayne 🙏

Wayne’s giving spirit will always be a warm memory for me. As a primary teacher, I could always tell my students when they asked if Santa was real, “Why yes, as long as you believe he is, he will be in your heart.”  This was always followed by a text to my aunt who would share what was written with Wayne, and they’d both reply with their best Santa and Mrs. Claus reply that being good was important no matter where you were at. Of course the reply would always come quick enough for the kids to really believe that I had texted the big guy himself.  And yes, stickers and a letter from Santa  would eventually arrive before winter break every year.   One year, the story of my connection to Santa was told to a worker at a welcome station in South Carolina I believe and my class even received a postcard from Santa’s vacation adventures there. Santa and Mrs. Claus also made an appearance at “Breakfast with Santa” one year at the school I was working at.  I’ll never forget eating out with the extended family when we all sat down and a young boy across the room stopped and stared in fascination. It took the rest of us a minute, but Wayne and Aunt Janice new instantly what the little one was thinking and gave him a few minutes of their time to truly show the little one the true spirit of giving unconditionally that lives within us all if we are willing to use it. I will definitely miss Wayne’s kindness.   It was also neat to share with my coworkers that I had relatives featured on ABC World News Tonight in a story about Santa School!  Wayne will be missed, but we know that his legacy will continue in those who loved him. His family has been and will be in our thoughts and prayers. 

I am so sorry for your loss. Janice my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. 


Wayne was not only a special brother-in-law, but a big part of our immediate family especially to me and Buddy.  He and Janice would go on adventures with us and enjoy the traveling and having fun together.  We spent 2 weeks in the Grand Canyon Area and have so many good memories of that time as well as many more trips and events in our lives.  Buddy (and I) are sure going to miss going next door several times a week just to say hello.  Our deepest sympathies to Janice and all the family.    He will certainly be missed by all.

Our hearts go out to you Aunt Janice, to you Tony, and to you all. Uncle Wayne was loved and will be missed by all of us.  

Although we did not get to see him very much we loved him and he will be missed.  All our love and prayers to aunt Janice and the family

OBITUARY

Wayne A. Turnbull

31 December, 1944 – 14 January, 2022

Hardage - Giddens Holly Hill Funeral Home & Hardage-Giddens Holly Hill Memorial Park

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